St Nicholas at Wade Wassail

Where:	St Nicholas at Wade, Kent at the Bell Inn
When:	Saturday in early to mid January
Time:	7 pm for wassailing from 7.30-8.30pm

While there is now a booming revival in Wassailing throughout England and it isn’t possible to list all of them here, some events stand out as unique and the wassail (formerly at the Gate Inn but now at The Bell at St Nicholas at Wade) is one of them. As well as all the typical elements you’d expect from a good night’s wassailing like singing around the apple tree, firing into the trees, storytelling, passing the Wassail Cup, torchlight and banging of pots & pans to frighten away evil spirits, this event features several volleys from re-enactment group the 3rd East Kent Regiment. The event begins with revellers inside the pub joining the wassailers in the beer garden, and has been well established for a number of years. Expect recitations about the Saxon origins of the wassailing custom, believed to have taken place in this area many years ago, offerings of bread, salt and cider, passing of the wassail bowl contents (now hygienically offered in individual portions!) lots of singing and a spirited mummers play to follow.

Helpful Hints

In 2025 it was on Saturday 11th January- 2026 date is yet to be announced. Arrive early to get your drinks as the pub will be very busy! There’s a charity bucket collection for local good causes.

Click here for the pub website : https://www.thebellstnicholas.co.uk

and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bell-Inn/307668919897994

and event listing : https://www.facebook.com/events/348463171659419/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22external%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Thanks to the late Aaron Janes for drawing my attention to this one.